D.J. Pieroway, a.k.a. The Drinks Professor, has been involved in hospitality for over 30 years. Her passion for the industry has led to her working in locations such as her native Newfoundland in Canada, Toronto, Hong Kong, Tokyo and London. She is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, and is in the final stages of completing her Wine, Spirits and Education Trust Diploma.

Founder and Hostess, Food I Am

Throughout my whole life, I have always had great experiences centred around food shared with family and friends.

My craving for foods of the world and good quality produce came from my food obsessed mother. An amazing cook and teacher, my mother cooked meats and traditional fare beautifully but really came into her own when cooking Chinese banquets in the 1970s better than most local Chinese restaurants.

What followed next was an obsession with Lebanese, Indian, Thai, French cuisine and the list goes on. We travelled the globe in Mum’s kitchen!

Food I Am was born in 2011 out of simple frustration that we were not able to access great food experiences created by accomplished chefs in the Riverina.

Guest Chef

Multi award winning Movida, Next Door, Aqui, Paco's Tacos & recently opened Movida Sydney are all synonymous amongst any food lover! Frank Camorra trained under the Grossi family at their original Café Grossi in Toorak.

Guest Chef

Christine Manfield is one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs who is also an author, food and travel writer, food manufacturer, presenter, teacher and gastronomic traveller whose culinary work draws on the exciting tastes and flavours of many cultures, whose passion and commitment to culinary excellence are world renowned.

Guest Chef

Giovanni is the Executive Chef and owner of Pilu at Freshwater which was recognised in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide as ‘Best New Restaurant’ in its first year of opening and has received two chef’s hats every year since then.

Guest Chef

Justin North is no stranger to awards. Becasse, Surry Hills, his first restaurant with wife Georgia was opened in 2001; it met with instant critical and public acclaim.

Becasse held on to two coveted Chef’s Hats from 2003 – 2011 and won Best European Restaurant in Australia many times. Justin was also named as Chef of the Year 2009 by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and GQ Chef of the Year 2010.

Guest Chef

Melina consults with some of Italy’s top culinary Institutes and now through the Manuelina Culinary Institute, she and her team of chefs are bringing Authentic Italian Regional Cuisine to the world… From Nonna to Master Chefs.

Guest Chef

Australian Celebrity Chef's David Bitton exclusively at Food I Am

Celebrity French chef David Bitton is a name you no doubt know well. From Bitton Gourmet, his best selling line of gourmet products, to his status as Executive Chef at many of the world's best five star restaurants. The day David arrived in Sydney he commenced work at The Intercontinental Hotel.

Guest Chef

Dominique Rizzo, author and regular guest on many of Australia’s top TV cooking programs brings her brand of healthy but irresistible cooking to Wagga. Dominique has left the kitchen for the classroom and now presents workshops on cooking with seasonal, local produce for better health, vitality and flavour.

Guest Chef

Amy's credentials from hatted establishments are many, afterspending three years with Frank Comorra “Movida” as Senior Chef de Partie she then moved onto her current position with Matt McConnell as Sous Chef at award winning “Bar Lourinha”.

Guest Chef

After completing his apprenticeship at Madam Fang & Shakahari (modern Asian), Melbourne, Soon then went on to work at Ishmus Of Kra (Thai), Chef de Partie at the NOBU Crown (Japanese & Peruvian) before travelling globally and working as Chef De Partie - Beach House Maldives, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel (French Cuisine and Maldivian Cuisine), London

Guest Chef

Early in Ryan's career he gained a position at SMH two hatted Waters Edge and then moved onto two hatted Aubergine, where he worked for the man who dished up two of Canberra's finest restaurants, James Mussilon.. During his time in Canberra Ryan also spent time teaching at Hotel Kurrajong (International Hotel School).

Team Building Chef

Martin’s world of gastronomy has seen him doing stints in the kitchen with Paul Bocuse and Rick Stein, working in radio as an on air presenter with Larry Emdur, Food editor for 9-5 magazine, chef on Channel 10’s Cheez TV, involvement with Channel 9’s Burkes Backyard and Today Show.

Alex Elliott-Howery is the co-founder of what has become a thriving and boundary - breaking food community in inner Sydney.

She runs the Cornersmith cafes, renowned for their big hearts and strong conscience when it comes to sustainably sourced food. Alex teaches pickling and preserving workshops at the Cornersmith cooking school, the Picklery.